Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1887-02-04
THE BASILISK.
A STORY OF TODAY.
CHAPTER Xxx.

murderer. On the floor, dark mass
in the darkness, lay the body which
Plowitz took for me! Close to the muir
derer stood his intended victim. He
would have murdered the blind man
the blind man was the only witness of
his crime.
The only witnessp Nay, what do l
hearp The rustic of dress, the sound
of voice that sounds strangely out of
place sn this atmosphere of sudden hor-
ror.
"Oh, what have you done-what
have you donep''
The voice of Mary Fortescue, low,
but full of anguish and despair.
go back, Miss Fortescue,' said
Plowitz, in that curt tone which is not
discourteous when used to women in
times of great emergency. IA burglar
has broken into the house. I have
secured him.
"A burglar!'
There was nothing but incredulity
and anguish in the tone-none of the
fear which Plowitz read in it.
"Do not be alarmed, he said, I have
secured him. Hardy and l will take
him down to the lod &c and send FOR a
constable"
"But you have hurt him-you have
killed him!" she moancd.
"Nonsense!" he replied, losing all
pretence of suavity; "nonsense-he, is
stunned. Go to your room. He is re-
viving!' and he stood over the figure,
as if to secure the prisoner. Then he
suddenly started back wildly. my
Cod" he painted hoarsely. Il have
killed Hardly"
"You have killed him!' echoed Mary
in voice in which horror and Joy
seemed to my ear to be strangely
blended.
"Nonsense! he repeated more
harshly than before.
BE stepped over the PROSTATE form,
and advanced few steps up the
passage towards where Mary was stand
ing, while love and dread had been
fighting in her breast, until she learnt
that her worst fears, at any rate, were
without foundation.
miss Fortescue you must forget this
scene." His words were nothing but a
formula appropriate to any trying oc-
easion. The way in which they were
uttered made them a fierce command
. deadly menace. "You must forget
this scene. You must 60 into your
room. You must remain there until
you receive word that you may come
ont. Shall conduct you to your
chamber"
The nearer approach Of the doctor
was enough to give effect to his COM
nands. Mary chastity retreated, and,
with great relief, I heard her lock her
door.
Plowitz returned-this episode took
but . few seconds-to the body OF
Hardy, and, taking matchbox from
his pocket, struck light, for, with the
closing Of Mary Fortescue's door, the
gloom was again deep. There was no
gas, but q pair of candles stood in
sconces on the passage wall. He lit
these, and then anxiously but carefully
examined his victim.
"Dead beyond question:" he said.
"Flowitz never needs to strike second
blow. Poor devil! what sent you into
my way like thisp Had you been fooling
me about this fellow CoplestoneP All, il
wore bitter fooling for thee if thou wertP''
'.Poor devil!" he went on in a diff
fereht tone; ''what a splendid stroke
that would have been for Coplestone
Scarcely tell-tale drop of blood to be
seen. But, friend Hardy, though it is
a neat piece of work, must not keep
tho evidence of my skin too long on
view.'
He stood upright, looking about hin
In thought, and then took a step to-
wards the door of tho room in which
was concealed.
"This would do for the present." b,
muttered, ''for the key is in the door
and if I take it with me, no one coult
enter"
felt that was in for either a life
and-death struggle with detected ant
armed murderer, or for long vigil il
the dark with the corpse of the muir
deredm man. I decided instinctively an,
Immediately for the former. I deter
mined to attack him while encumbere,
with the body, and endeavor to posses
myself Of his dagger. Beyond that
distinct intentions had not time to 60
but felt that the possession of the dag
ger would be in itself inspiration a
to the proper course. But while I be
gan to prepare myself for tho momen
of action, Plowitz suddenly ceased hi
CHASTITY task of dragging the helpless
heavy form along the floor.
"Fool that l AMP he exclaimed
[ 1.-THE secret stairs"
Surely he could not mean to take tn
corpse out on to the main staircase int
the full light of the hall? Although i
that sequcstercd and uncanny house